Engine mounting for aeroplanes



1 641 306 Sept 1927' E. H. VAN VALKENBERG ENGINE MOUNTING FOR AEROPLANES Filed Oct. 25, 1926 20 vention is the Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,641,306, PATENT OFFICE.

EBER HARLEY VAN VALKENBERGQOF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO OSCAR SILVERSTEIN, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

ENGINE MOUNTING son AEROPLANES.

Application filed October 23, 1926. Serial No. 143,625.

My present invention relates to improvements in en ine mountings for aeroplanes which-while l ierein shown as adapted for usewith a single engine or power plant used in 6 the pro ulsion of the aircraft, may also be adapte and used with other types of aeroplanes. I

In the exem lification of the invention shown herein the engine mounting is employed at the front of the fuselage or body frame of the aeroplane, and used in connection with a removable nose or front endpiece of the body of the aircraft. As is well lmown in the aircraft profession the necessity frequently arises for makin immediate and rapid changes by removing one power plant or engine, and substituting therefor another power plant or engine. 'The primary object of my inpirovision of an engine mounting or remove 1e su portingframe orbed for the power lantfby means of which the latter may rea ily and quickly be assembled and placed in operative position with relation to the aircraft; which will provide the necessary substantial support for the power plant while in use, and which may with equal facility be removed from the aircraft when necessary. so

The invention conslsts in certain nov'el combinations and arrangements of arts as will hereinafter be more fully descri ed and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of as the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the arts are combined and arranged accordlng to one mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front portion of the fuselage or body frame 'of an aeroplane and illustrating the en 'ne bed or mounting of my inventlon attac ed thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the body frame showing the engine mounting infplace and indicating the position and relation of The power plant and propellerbydotted mes.

50 Figure 3 is an enlar vertical lon' tudinal sectional view of tiie engine moui tin%as at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

igure 4 isa transverse sectional view at line 4-4 of Figure 3. N I In order that the general arrangement and engine mounting.

relation of parts may readilybe understood I have shown in Figure l a portion of the body frame including a pair of longitudinal struts 1 and 2 and an u per cross bar 3. At the front of the body. rame an extension is fashioned and includes thefront diagonal braces 4 and -5 and the bottom cross bar 6. The landin gear, or a portion thereof is indicated at and located beneath the front of the body portion to reinforce the structure. In Figure 2 the power plant 8 and the propeller. 9 are indicated by dottedlines, the former bein attached in usual or suitable manner tot he two sills 10 and 11 of the v These sills '10 and 11 as shown may be of wood and rectangular in cross section, or they may be fashioned .of other suitable material and in desired shape. The sills extendlongitudinally of the body frame and are supported in the front extension of the body frame. At their front ends these sills.

are ri idly joined 'bya downwardly curved metal 1c yoke 12 which is fashioned with end caps 13 and 14 that fit over the respective en s of the sills 10'and 11.- Bolts 15 are passed through the walls of the end caps and the sills to ,se :urely attach the yoke and its caps to the sills and provide'a rigid front cross member for the $1115.

The two sills are su ported at the front of the extension frame y means of a pair of U- lates '16 an'd 17, and each plate has a tie bo t 18 extending across the upper face of a sill to retain it in place in its ;U-plate.

These U-plates are supported by a pair of complementary upper races 19 and 19", and a complementary pair of lower diagonal braces 20 and 20, and these braces form parts of the front extension frame. I 05 The sills with the motor plant or engine attachedthereto are slid along in the spaced U-pl'ates, to and from operative position. At their rear ends the two sills are supported in means of acomplementary pair of place by socket eads 21 and 22 in which the respective ends of the sills are seated. These socket heads are attached to uprights 23 formin part of the front extension frame, and b0 ts 24 'are passed throu h the socket 116 heads and the ends of the si s to rigidly secure the sills in the socket heads.

It will be a parent that. the motor plant or engine wh1 e mounted on the two sills may be located in position-by sliding the its locked sills through the U-plates and inserting the ends of the sills in the socket heads 21 and 22. Then the tie bolts 18 and 24; are secured in position and the engine 'mountin is thus with facility and rapiditi place erative position for use. .T e ing may with equal facility be re eased from position and withdrawn when desired.

Having thus fully described my im ention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

.1. The combination with a body frame of an aeroplane, of a pair of longitudinal sills having a rigid front connection andforming a removable engine mounting, rear supports fixedto said frame for the sills and separable means for securing the sills and supports, a front extension on the body in open ne'mount-' frame pair of rear socket eads su ported in said frame, of a pair of longitu inally disposed fixed supports on said extension for the sills intermediate their ends, and sepasills supported in said plates and socket heads,,an d attachin means for said sills.

3. The combination with a pair of U- sha ed supporting plates and a pair ot soc et heads, of a pair of longitudinal sills having a front end yoke and attaching caps on' said oke, and tie bolts for securing said I sills in t e U-plates and socket heads.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.v

mm HARLEY VAN numnarac. 

